Electric switch.



L. F. KRIES.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 27, 191s.

L. I. KRIBS.' LBGTRIG SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27, 1913.

" Petentea Feb. 2, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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L. F. KRIES.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.27, 1913.

1,126,788.. Peeentea Feb.2,1915.

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@Hoang-5 Gwil'neooco Baltimore, State PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCEAF. KRIES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application led October 27, 1913. Serial No. 797,500.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, LAWRENCE F. KRIES, a citizen of the United States, residing at of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

'lhis invention relates to electric switches and particularly to a combined switch and fuse box adapted to permit access to the fuses only after the current to the fuses has been cut off and adapted to prevent, at all times, access by other than authorized persons, to the live terminals of the switch. Switches of this character find their greatest iield of utility as service switches interposed between the service main and a house meter, and my invention besides protecting the operator against shocks while replacing the fuses, also prevents theft of current by precluding at all times the possibility of getting at live contacts at any point in advance of the meter.

l illustrate a three showing the box cover reversed for a purpose hereinafter described; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4; Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a portion of the switch box; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cover, certain parts being broken away; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the swinging fuse chamber showing the switch contacts.

v lln the drawings the switch base consists of a cast metal box or case 1 closed except for a rectangular opening 2 in its front face and having two sector shaped projecting plates 3, one at each side of the opening 2 and substantially equal-in height therewith. The curved edges of the .plates Bare arcs struck from the axis of pivot lugs 4 as centers. It is about the lugs 4 that the fuse chamber and switch swings. rIhe box 1 extends downward below the opening 2 and forms a base against which the meter 5 is attached, the electrical connections tol and from the meter being preferably made through the back thereof so as to avoid exposed wires.

`l15 is a; swinging pole switch and fuse.r box yembodying my invention in the accom-v An insulating base 6 is mounted in box 1 against the back thereof, and in a three wire switch such as here illustrated carries three* switch blades 7 and three switch contacts 8 insulated from one another. The sheathing 9 of the service main cable is connected to the case l by forcing it over a conical nipple 10 and then clamping it with a ring 1l. The service wires 12 pass through nipple 10 into the box and also are connected to respective switch contacts by binding screws '13. The contacts 8 are connected through the meter 5 to the house wiring by wires 14 in the usual manner.

Journaled on the lugs 4, by means of slots sector shaped fuse chamber 16 having a front wall. 17, back wall 18 and ends 19. The back wall 18 has a flanged aperture in which an insulating base 20 is held by a flange strip 21. The base 20 carries three switch contacts 22 adapted to coact with contacts 7 and three contacts 23 adapted to coact with contacts 8. The contacts 22 are electrically connected through the base 2O to three fuse clips 24 and the contacts 23 to three other fuse clips v25. Fuses 26, but here shown as ordinary inclosed fuses, connect each clip 24 to a corresponding clip 25. The form of the fuse and its connections is not material.

rlhe inward swinging movement of the fuse chamber is limited by stop 27 and the outward swinging movement by stop 28. After the fuse chamber 16 has been hung on lugs 4 it is retained on these lugs in all positions within the range of movement by cover 29. rlhis cover "29 is curved as shown to fit closely against the circular edges of the plates 3, and has flanges 30 at each side which forma close lap joint. At the bottom and top the cover 29 has ribs or beads 31 and 32, either of which may interlock with a transverse overhanging flange 33 on box 1. Adjacent the bead 31 the cover 29 has an inwardly extending stop lug 34 which runs only part way across the lid, so that when the lid is reversed as will be described hereafter it may when necessary clear the ends 19 of the chamber 16. The cover 29 is also provided vwith two? pairs of openings 35 and 36.

After the fuse chamber 16 is in place lid 29 is put on by engaging bead 31 under lug 33 and swinging lid 29. down until it rests on plates 3.- The lugs 37 on plates 3 will then project through openings 36 and a' locking bar 38 is passed through holes provided in lugs 37 for that purpose. The bar 38 retains cover 29 tightly in place and is itself secured by the usual seal 39 or by any other suitable means for preventing its unprevents the passage of' wires into box 1` authorized removal. The openings 35 are blanked by the edges of plates 3. This is the position shown in Fig. 1. The lid may be put on in the same manner in the reverse position shown in Fig. 2 bringing the stop lug 34 from its inoperative position (F ig. l) to its operative position (Fig. 2).

Thechamber 16 has a lug 40 which swings practically in contact with a curved guard plate 41 on box 1. Similarly the ends 19 of the chamber move very close to the plates 3 and the edges of the front plate 17 and back plate 18 swing very close to cover 29. This past the chamber 16. i

With cover 29 mounted as in Fig. 1 the action is as follows: wWhen the fuse chamber-16 is swung downward by means of handle 42, the contacts 22 and 23 are first drawn clear of contacts 7 and 8. This action is completed before the edge of front plate 17 passes clear of cover 29. Continued movement downward gives access to the interior of fuse chamber 16 for the safe replacement of fuses. The downward movement is stopped by stops 28 before back plate 18 passes clear of cover 29 (see dotted line position, Fig. 1). Consequently access to the live terminals 7 can only be had by removing cover 29 or breaking some part of the box. By reversing the lid 29 (see Fig. 2) either of two results may besecured. The lug 34 may be made to limit the outward movement of front plate 17 thus permitting the opening of the switch while preventing access to thefuse chamber, or by putting the lid 29 in place with lug 34 on the inner side of plate 17 closing of the'switch may be prevented. In certain contingencies, either of the suggested arrangements may be found desirable.

If desired the ends 19 ofthe box-16 may be' omitted the plates 3 servingthe intended purpose. I prefer however to use the construction shown as it is stronger.

The device may take various forms without departing from the spirit of my invention. The broad principle involved is the use of a fuse box which is movable relatively to a shield so as to be opened and closed thereby, together with an inaccessible switch adapted to be actuated by such movement of the box to control the supply of current to fuses -in the box. lIt is not essential to this broad principlethat the box be pivoted as shown or that it carry part of the switch in the `manner shown. Theuse 'of a common basefor the switch and meter aperture in allpositions and closed by said casing in its inner position; fuse terminals insaid combined box and closure; and a switch mechanism mounted in said casing behind said combined box and closure, electrically connected with said fuse terminals, and mechanically connected with said combined box and closure to be closed thereby only at the inward position thereof.

2. The combination of av casing having an aperture; a combined fuse box and closure mounted to move into and out of said casing` through said aperture, closing said aperture in all positions and closed by said casing in its inner position; fuse terminals in said combined box and closure: switch contacts electrically connected to said fuse closed by said shield; fuse terminals in said box; an inaccessible electric switch controlling the flow of current to said fuse terminals; and mechanical connections between said switch and box adapted to close the former by the movement of thelatter to closed position.

4. The combination of a shield: a fuse box movable into and out of position to be closed by said shield; fuse terminals in said box; switch contacts. munted on said box and electrically connected to said terminals: fixed contacts with which said first named contacts contact in the closed position of the box; and a casing structure inclosing all said contacts against access in all positions of said box.

5. The combination of a casing having an arc shaped shield; a fuse box pivoted -to swing under said shield in close proximity thereto and having sulicient range of movement to swing out from under said shield to permit access to said box; fuse terminals mounted in said box; a switch'mechanism mounted in said casing behind said box and constantly protected from access thereby; electrical connections between said switch and terminals; and mechanical connections between said box and switch whereby the latter is closed by the movement of the former to closed position.

6. The combination of-,a sector shaped casing; a smaller sector shaped fuse box pivotally mounted to swing into and partially out of said casing; a switch compris'- ing a fixed set of contacts mounted in the s casing back of the fuse box and a movable Iand electrically connected to said movable contacts; and stops limiting the movement of the fuse box.

7. The combination of a guard case open at its forward extremity; a forward and a rear partition extending across said case spaced apart and movable therein toward and from its open extremity; stops limiting the movement of said partitions so that only the forward partition may move clear of the case; fuses mounted between said partitions and accessible onlyin the forward position thereof; andalswitch mechanism controlling the flow of current to said fuses. mounted" behind said rear partition and operatively connected with said partitions to be actuated by the movement thereof, and to -be closed only in the rearward position of said partitions.

8. The combination of a supporting case; switch contacts mounted in said case; a fuse chamber pivoted in said case and provided with switch contacts coacting with the contacts in said case; anda reversible cover for said case having a stop limiting the movements of said fuse box to a portion of its normal range,cssaid stop being brought from an inoperative to an operative position by the reversal of said cover.

.In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two, subscribing witnesses.

LAl/VRENCE F. KRIES. Witnesses:

HAROLD lV. MILLER, J. IRVING CLARK. 

